Chapter 57
The moment gamblers began flocking around Tsunade, Naoki Asakawa finally understood how terrifying the so-called "legendary big fat sheep" truly was.
But today… this legendary sheep was about to reveal its fangs.
"Sensei Tsunade, let's play that one."
Naoki pointed toward a table where a waitress was shaking a dice cup — the classic Big or Small. Simple, direct, and perfect for his plan.
"Alright, let's go with that today," Tsunade grinned, rolling up her sleeves. Since it was the students' money being wagered anyway, she had no reason to refuse.
As they approached, the pretty waitress at the table immediately recognized her.
"Tsunade-sama! I didn't expect you to come back again."
"Yeah, just a few more rounds," Tsunade smiled, radiating confidence. "I'm going to win back everything I lost."
"I'll be rooting for you. Everyone's been waiting to see you win one day," the waitress chuckled, though her tone held a subtle trace of teasing.
As Tsunade took her place, the surrounding gamblers erupted.
"Lady Tsunade's over here!"
"Let me in! I want to bet against her!"
"Me too!"
In the blink of an eye, the table was crammed with people, a dozen gamblers squeezing in so tightly that Naoki found himself pressed up right beside Tsunade.
This was probably the closest he'd ever been to such a stunning woman. If it were under different circumstances, the faint scent of her skin might have made his heart race.
But not today. This wasn't about flirtation. It was about his future food money.
"Alright — let's get started," the waitress announced.
She placed three dice into the cup, shook it thrice to the left, then to the right, before slamming it onto the table with a crisp thunk.
"Alright, listen up. Ten or below is Small, eleven and above is Big. Place your bets!"
But none of the gamblers moved. Instead, all eyes fell on Tsunade.
She didn't hesitate. "I'll bet Big. Two hundred thousand taels."
Twenty neat silver notes hit the table with a satisfying slap.
And then, like a chain reaction —
"I'll bet Small, fifty thousand taels!"
"Small, one hundred thousand!"
"Same here, one hundred thousand!"
Almost everyone went against her.
Naoki wasn't surprised. Tsunade's infamy was legendary, and every gambler here was eager to fatten their own pockets by betting the opposite.
Yet through the delicate connection of his Sword Control Technique, Naoki noticed something odd.
When Tsunade announced her bet on Big, the dice inside the cup… shifted.
It wasn't luck. It was manipulation.
The waitress had made a move, ensuring the sum of the dice would reach Big.
Naoki narrowed his eyes. Casinos existed to rake in money, and the smartest way to do that was by stringing gamblers along — letting them taste a win before bleeding them dry. They'd let Tsunade win now, to hook her deeper.
He leaned in, half-joking. "Is this really fair?"
Before the waitress could reply, several gamblers snickered at him.
"Kid, you new here?"
"This dice cup's special. It blocks chakra. Even the Hyuga clan's Byakugan can't see through it, let alone you."
Even Tsunade gave him a light smile. "Relax, little guy. This casino has a good reputation. Their dice cup can't mess with my chakra."
Naoki shrugged. "Got it."
Moments later, the waitress lifted the cup.
"Two, four, six. Total: twelve! Big!"
"Congratulations, Tsunade-sama!"
A cheer went up — though it was thin and half-hearted. Hardly anyone had followed her bet, and she cleaned up a hefty pot.
"Haha! Six hundred fifty thousand taels in one go. Feels amazing!" Tsunade laughed, eyes gleaming.
Naoki sighed inwardly. She probably doesn't realize the waitress fed her that win.
But it didn't matter. The next round would be his.
The wolf hides beneath the fleece today, sensei.
As the wails of defeated gamblers echoed, the second round began. A few cautious souls considered tailing Tsunade this time.
"Alright, place your bets!" the waitress called.
"Still Big! Five hundred thousand taels!" Tsunade slammed another bundle of cash down.
"I'll follow Lady Tsunade — twenty thousand!"
"Small, fifty thousand!"
"Small, thirty thousand!"
The calls came thick and fast.
While everyone scrambled over Big or Small, Naoki quietly activated his magic. This dice cup could block chakra, sure — but magic power? Not a chance. His magic slipped through the barrier like mist.
And control didn't require a flying sword. The essence of Sword Control was the manipulation of objects — and though these dice weren't made of chakra metal, their size and weight made them easy prey for him.
Naoki's mental command was simple.
Get bigger.
Under his influence, the faces that should have landed at one, two, and four slowly adjusted to three, four, and four.
The waitress opened the cup.
"Three, four, four — total eleven! Big!"
The table exploded.
"Again?!"
"Lady Tsunade won again?!"
"No way!"
Tsunade punched the air. "Yes! That's two in a row!"
It had been ages since she'd gotten such a good start. A string of back-to-back wins was practically a miracle.
"I didn't think Tsunade-sama's luck would be this good today."
"I don't believe it! She's supposed to be cursed!"
Grumbles and disbelief rippled through the crowd.
The waitress, on the other hand, was visibly annoyed. She'd intentionally let Tsunade win the first round — but the second was supposed to go to the house.
Instead, it seemed like fortune itself had flipped.
"I might actually win back everything I lost today!" Tsunade declared, confidence shining in her eyes.
Naoki chuckled silently to himself.
Let's keep this little game going a while longer, sensei.
"Alright, let's move to the third round!"
"Coming right up, Tsunade-sama!" the waitress forced a smile. It didn't matter. Whether gamblers won or lost now, the house would always take its cut. In the end, no gambler truly walked away a winner.
As the third round began, the crisp clatter of dice filled the air, every gambler's gaze fixed on the trembling dice cup.
The room hummed with excitement.
"Place your bets!" the waitress called, slamming the cup onto the table.
Naoki's eyes gleamed.
Time to deal the next hand.
*********
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